Climate Change
The world is heating up at a rapid rate
Average temperatures on Earth have warmed by about 0.76 of a degree Celsius over the last 100 years, with most of this warming occurring in the past 20 years.
This temperature rise appears small but small increases in temperature translate into big changes for the world's climate.
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) attributes most of this temperature rise to human activities that release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Stay under a global average temperature increase of 2 degrees
More hotter days, more severe storms, droughts and fire, and higher sea levels are expected under climate change. This could threaten lives, industries and jobs, sustainable agricultural production, fresh water supplies and the survival of native species and ecosystems.
Scientists and some governments agree that an average global warming of 2 degrees or more above the pre-industrial level would result in dangerous and irreversible climate change with dramatic social, economic and environmental impacts.
Australians are big polluters
Australians are the highest per-capita greenhouse gas polluters in the developed world. This is due to the fact that we generate electricity largely by burning high-emission coal and we use energy inefficiently.
Australia's total emissions are similar in magnitude to those of the United Kingdom and France, yet those countries have much larger populations.
How will we stay under 2 degrees?
WWF-Australia believes that in order to stay below a 2 degree increase the next Australian Government must implement a national plan to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. This plan must:
- Set targets to stabilise emissions by 2010, and then reduce emissions by 20-30% by 2020;
- Implement world’s best practice energy efficiency and vehicle emission standards;
- Implement a national emissions trading scheme that is operational by 2010;
- Ensure no new coal-fired power stations are built unless they have carbon capture and storage;
- Implement a renewable energy target of 25% of electricity generated by 2030; and
- Ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
Industrial Constraints and Dislocations to Significant Emissions Reductions by 2050
Details how Australia is facing critical climate change skills shortages to deliver sufficient reduction cuts, and also pushes the need for complimentary ETS measures such as a Renewable Energy Target (RET).
Antarctic penguins under pressure
Half to three-quarters of major Antarctic penguin colonies face severe decline or extinction if global temperatures are allowed to climb by more than 2°C, according to a report released today by WWF.
Small cuts not enough to halt climate change
WWF-Australia today urged the Federal Government to take decisive action and adopt Professor Ross Garnaut's recommendation that Australia should aim to achieve an emissions target of 450ppm CO2 equivalent by the year 2100.
WWF stands by Alcoa scorecard rating - revises AGL rating upwards
On September 3, WWF released a Fossil Fuel Power Generator Scorecard that highlighted the major Australian power companies currently unprepared for a low carbon future.
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